May Kaidee

This small vegan Thai spot has the most comforting, homely vibe, it truly feels like you have been invited into someone’s home for a meal. The host is incredibly sweet and welcoming, and the way she serves everyone makes the experience feel personal and heartfelt. The food was just as special. We loved the papaya salad, super fresh, crunchy, and perfectly balanced with peanuts. The spring rolls were packed with fresh ingredients, and the dipping sauce added a lovely spicy kick that brought everything together. The massaman curry was rich, comforting, and full of flavor. It’s a quiet, hidden spot and that’s part of its charm.

What a cute place! So unassuming from the front but definitely go in and try their food! We had the fresh spring rolls, dumplings with “pork” and massaman curry with “chicken”. So delicious! Vegan/vegetarian places are hard to come by and this one is very homey and offers plenty of tasty options. 100% must visit!

I arrived for an early dinner for one around 6pm. Thai music was playing, great ambiance. I was greeted by May. She was incredibly welcoming and friendly. I ordered the Masaman Curry, May asked how spicy, I said VERY SPICY. She brought it out with a side of pepper. She let me know that sometimes the spice overpowers the flavor of the curry, so on the side is better. It was very good, spice level was great, flavor was great. Many more people arrived, and it was busy. I ordered a Mango/Banana Sticky rice, it was very good, the coconut sauce was delicious. I left very full! My only disappointment is that this was my first visit here. I will be back soon!

Fantastic Thai restaurant! The massaman curry is incredible. We loved the pumpkin hummus and mango and banana sticky rice, too. And May herself is so warm, fun and welcoming. My husband and I were obsessed with May Kaidee’s restaurants in Chiang Mai and Bangkok when we spent a lot of time in Thailand from 2007-2011. We were beyond thrilled when we found out she has a New York location! We’ll definitely be back the next time we’re in town.

Dare I say the food here beats all the upscale vegan spots I’ve gone to in terms of flavor. This is some of the best Thai food I’ve eaten even outside of being vegan! I can really taste the flavors of the food and the ingredients feel fresh, which is something incredibly rare with NYC restaurants. May is also a great chef and an awesome host. It was great to chat with her briefly after our meal and I will be adding this to my list of my favorite spots in manhattan. I can’t wait to try more things on the menu my next visit. I’m really happy I randomly stumbled in for dinner to get away from rain.